Director of Communications

About the Opportunity

Common Justice is seeking a strategic, visionary, and collaborative communications leader to serve as Director of Communications. Reporting to the Vice President of Civic Engagement & Narrative, the Director of Communications will lead the organization’s communications department and oversee the development and execution of integrated narrative, media, digital, and public engagement strategies that advance Common Justice’s mission, policy priorities, fundraising goals, and movement-building efforts. The Director of Communications will help shape the organization’s public voice and narrative strategy, oversee brand and media positioning, manage digital and creative communications infrastructure, and supervise communications staff and consultants. This role combines high-level strategic leadership with strong campaign development, team management, and cross-organizational collaboration.

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Communications

• Lead the development and execution of organization-wide communications and narrative strategies aligned with Common Justice’s mission, policy priorities, and organizational goals
• Shape and steward Common Justice’s narrative strategy across earned media, digital platforms, publications, campaigns, and public events
• Partner with Vice President of Narrative and Civic Engagement to identify strategic communications opportunities that advance organizational visibility, influence, and impact
• Guide message development on issues related to violence, racial equity, restorative justice, survivor-centered approaches, alternatives to incarceration and community safety
• Develop annual communications goals, priorities, and strategic plans across departments and campaigns
• Advise Vice President of Narrative and Civic Engagement on media strategy, crisis communications, public positioning, and emerging narrative opportunities
• Ensure communications strategies reflect the experiences and leadership of people most impacted by violence and the criminal legal system

Media Relations

• Lead earned media strategy and cultivate relationships with journalists, editors, producers, influencers, and media partners
• Oversee development of press materials including statements, talking points, op-eds, media advisories, reports, and public education materials
• Serve as a strategic lead for high-profile communications moments, campaigns, announcements, and public events
• Identify opportunities to elevate organizational leadership, program participants, and partners in public discourse
• Support media preparation and spokesperson development for staff, partners, and impacted community members
• Monitor media trends and public narratives related to criminal legal reform, public safety, and violence prevention

Digital Strategy

• Oversee the organization’s digital communications strategy across social media, website, email, video, and multimedia storytelling platforms
• Supervise development and execution of integrated digital campaigns that support civic engagement, advocacy, development, and narrative change goals
• Guide audience growth and engagement strategies across digital platforms
• Ensure communications outputs are accessible, visually compelling, and strategically aligned across channels
• Collaborate with staff to translate civic engagement and programmatic work into effective public-facing storytelling initiatives
• Use analytics and performance metrics to evaluate campaign effectiveness and refine strategy

Content Strategy

• Steward and strengthen Common Justice’s brand identity across all communications materials and platforms
• Provide editorial and creative direction for publications, reports, visual assets, videos, presentations, and campaign materials
• Oversee development of high-quality written and multimedia content that advances organizational priorities
• Ensure consistency in messaging, voice, and design standards across communications outputs
• Guide long-term storytelling strategies that deepen public understanding of community-based approaches to safety and healing

Department Leadership

• Supervise and mentor communications staff, consultants, and interns, including the Senior Manager for Digital Media Engagement
• Oversee communications workflows, production timelines, campaign calendars, and department priorities
• Partner closely with civic engagement, development, partnerships and replication, and program teams to align communications strategies with organizational goals
• Support fundraising and donor communications efforts and events in collaboration with development staff
• Implement and manage CRM systems to track and steward relationships with donors, members, and supporters across the organization's outreach channels
• Manage relationships with external vendors, designers, photographers, videographers, and communications consultants
• Build internal systems that strengthen collaboration, planning, and strategic communications integration across department

Work Schedule

• A hybrid role, requiring four in-office days per month.
• Occasional evening and weekend work will be required

Qualifications

• At least 8 to 10 years of professional experience in communications, media strategy, narrative change, journalism, public affairs, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience leading communications strategy and managing high-impact campaigns within social justice, advocacy, nonprofit, or movement-based organizations
• Strong understanding of narrative change work related to criminal legal reform, public safety, racial justice, and survivor-centered approaches
• Experience managing communications teams, consultants, and cross-functional collaborations
• Excellent writing, editing, messaging, and storytelling skills across multiple platforms and audiences
• Demonstrated experience with earned media strategy, digital communications, and public engagement campaigns
• Strong leadership and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Experience overseeing brand strategy, creative direction, and multimedia communications production
• Knowledge of communications and engagement platforms including CRM systems, email marketing tools, website management platforms, and social media analytics tools
• Ability to communicate strategic ideas clearly and effectively to leadership, staff, partners, funders, and public audiences